Good and bad buys from Aldi and Lidl

mcculloch29

'Worship', A. Badger? I've just seen several examples of excellent customer service quoted, and prior to that some objective views.

Re the 'jumble sales'. Go into a store when it opens and you will see all stock neatly laid out and displayed.
My son was driving past a local Aldi at 4.30 am just before Christmas and thought he saw someone trying to break in. It turned out to be a member of staff going in at that time to merchandise goods.

Like Primark, the fact that customers toss goods about at random can hardly be blamed on Aldi - their staff are too busy during opening hours to re-arrange everything prettily.

Rightyo, back on topic. I tried the new Gianni 900ml Cherry and Vanilla icecream this evening. (Carte D'Or looky-likey) It has a cherry sauce swirled through with whole cherries scattered over and luscious vanilla ice cream. Really, really lovely.

They also have something I've never seen before - apple and rhubarb flavour sparkling crush. Had to try it and was pleasantly surprised. The reddish-pink colour has you expecting berry flavours but it's not like that at all, obviously. A sharp little aftertaste that is definitely different.

I've put my flowers, bought February 24th, in the bin this evening. That was £3 well spent.

paulineb_2

A._Badger wrote: »

Oh, there are things, believe me! The fact that its stores tend to look like jumble sales organised by a madman, for one. It does have some products that are extremely well priced for the quality offered, but the near-worship of a mere supermarket can make Apple's infamous 'fanbois' look like objective consumers.

You've said this before. My local aldi doesn't look like a jumble sale. Not at all.

Some of us shop in other shops as well. I like aldi. I like lidl less. I dont like aldi because other people like the store. I can make up my own mind.

Seriously, why the continual putting down of other people's opinions?

What harm is it doing you whether people like shopping in aldi or not?

VfM4meplse

paulineb wrote: »

What harm is it doing you whether people like shopping in aldi or not?

In fact it helps me if less people go in - all the more goodies and space to browse for me!

A._Badger

paulineb wrote: »

You've said this before. My local aldi doesn't look like a jumble sale. Not at all.

Some of us shop in other shops as well. I like aldi. I like lidl less. I dont like aldi because other people like the store. I can make up my own mind.

Seriously, why the continual putting down of other people's opinions?

What harm is it doing you whether people like shopping in aldi or not?

Disagreeing with someone isn't 'putting down' someone else's opinions. Why do Aldiphiles get so defensive? It smacks of post-purchase justification.

The comment was made 'what's not to love?' about Aldi. The chaotic store layout is one reason. As I said in my comment, some things about Aldi are very good, some aren't. Not being able to see that some aren't is just fan behaviour.

A._Badger

mcculloch29 wrote: »

'Worship', A. Badger? I've just seen several examples of excellent customer service quoted, and prior to that some objective views. [/QUOTE

No doubt. And yet we have also seen examples of Aldi double charging some of its customers and other posters on this thread who had disliked Aldi (or Lidl) products. That is exactly the sort of balance you would expect to find, with highs and lows.

What intrigues me is that there seems to be a marked reluctance to admit that everything isn't always wonderful - epitomised by the Aldiphiles' bristling at any criticism.

mcculloch29

There was a run of posts praising Aldi, there have been runs of posts criticising them too.
The prawns are far too salty apparently...
The fact that those choosing to praise posted together hardly counts as 'worship'! I can't fathom why people expressing a positive opinion annoys you. If there are no negatives in someone's experience you can hardly expect them to invent any!
You find the way goods are arranged in your local store irritating. Fair enough. To merchandise them in any other way would add to the cost, however.

A._Badger

mcculloch29 wrote: »

There was a run of posts praising Aldi, there have been runs of posts criticising them too.
The prawns are far too salty apparently...
The fact that those choosing to praise posted together hardly counts as 'worship'! I can't fathom why people expressing a positive opinion annoys you. If there are no negatives in someone's experience you can hardly expect them to invent any! .

You misunderstand. It doesn't 'annoy' me. It intrigues me. It is strange behaviour to be so devoted to a supermarket that the moment someone criticises it, its defenders rush to its defence.

mcculloch29 wrote: »

You find the way goods are arranged in your local store irritating. Fair enough. To merchandise them in any other way would add to the cost, however.

That's a unique justification for the bizarre juxtaposition of compressor oil next to sewing kits, light bulbs and heaven knows what else that I saw in an Aldi recently, I'll give you that.

Kayalana99

A._Badger wrote: »

Oh, there are things, believe me! The fact that its stores tend to look like jumble sales organised by a madman, for one. It does have some products that are extremely well priced for the quality offered, but the near-worship of a mere supermarket can make Apple's infamous 'fanbois' look like objective consumers.

I don't shop at Aldi because we have a discount card elsewhere and can't use credit cars.

That said - the point of Aldi is they save costs to bring you the best deals if that makes the shelves look a little scuffy then that would be fine by me! If you are picky about that then hey ho thats what marks and sparks is for.

I've never understood the obsession with having to have everything pulled forward and looking 100% when people are queuing at the tills...etc

~Chameleon~

A._Badger wrote: »

Oh, there are things, believe me! The fact that its stores tend to look like jumble sales organised by a madman, for one. It does have some products that are extremely well priced for the quality offered, but the near-worship of a mere supermarket can make Apple's infamous 'fanbois' look like objective consumers.

That may apply to the store you use but it certainly doesn't apply in my case. The store I use is large, spacious, and incredibly well laid out. Much better than my experience of Tesco et al.

My only gripe with them is not accepting credit cards as I never use cash/debit cards as a rule. I'm having to change the way I do my finances as a result of shopping in Aldi. And I can imagine their recent banking error has left many people with financial problems for a few days, although they are willing to compensate for this.

[Deleted User]

Well I for one have decided that paying over the top for Mr Ts stuff is absurd I have changed my shopping habits over the past few months and am absolutely delighted with both Aldi's and Lidls.The smaller Aldi's in Gillingham isn't the best so I decided to use the larger one in Sittingbourne and it really is as neat and tidy as you want.The only hassle I have is there never seems to be enough tills open so ques do build up at times.But saying that the staff are really helpful and polite and nothing is too much trouble.
Lidl's in Miadstone is a great place to shop and spotlessly clean very simelar to Calais Carre four only not quite as big.But excellent value stuff and helpful staff.I still occasionally shop in my local Sainsbobs as I do like their large oranges.But my main shop has moved to Aldi's and Lidls.Mr T s has become just too expensive to use and the staff at my local large super store in Gillingham just are so rude and couldn't care less about customer service. As for the small Tesco Extra in rainham which is about 4 minutes from my house it was re-vamped a few months ago and almost everything was put into chiller/cold cabinets with sliding doors.Not easy to use when one hand has to use a stick and the other has a handbag in.Plus the price of their food is even more expensive than the bigger shop a mile away Why is that I wonder ? is it because they figure that the local older population have a resticted choice, it is the only supermarket apart from a small Iceland in our village.No I am quite happy to say that Aldi's and Lidl's definitely do it for me and I'm not bothered about loyalty points I just want to cut the food bills.Why should I be loyal to a store that charges 89p for a head of brocolli when I can buy the same thing in Alldi's for 45p.brocolli is brocolli and I'm not fussed about loyalty at all